Kalaba bemoans Zambia’s mineral wealth management

By GIDEON NYENDWA

CITIZENS’ First president Harry Kalaba has raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the country’s emerald mining sector.

And the Emerald Production Watch of Zambia (EPWZ) has encouraged small and medium artisanal miners to continue investing in the emerald sector despite the challenges encountered in 2024.

Mr. Kalaba is wondering why the country focuses heavily on copper and manganese while ignoring emeralds, which have been globally ranked as the best in the gemstone industry.

He said the wealth generated from emerald mining on the Copperbelt Province was only benefitting a select few individuals instead of the government and Zambian citizens.

“I don’t understand why no one talks about the emeralds being mined on the Copperbelt. Why is the money going into individual pockets and not the national treasury?” Mr. Kalaba questioned.

He emphasised that with Zambia’s vast mineral wealth, including emeralds, gold, and other precious minerals, the country would not need to rely on external borrowing from institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Mr. Kalaba pointed to gold deposits at Kasenseli Mine in the North-Western Province and Mpika, lamenting the government’s tendency to seek foreign investors for projects that could be locally managed.

He criticised the practice, describing it as folly, especially since the local people have already discovered significant gold reserves using rudimentary tools.

“With so much gold, why are we scouting for investors? Let the government take ownership, sell the gold, and raise resources to invest in mining infrastructure. After that, you can partner with external players,” Mr Kalaba said.

He called for urgent reforms to ensure that mineral wealth directly benefits citizens, reduces reliance on external debt, and promotes sustainable economic development.

Meanwhile, the Emerald Production Watch of Zambia has encouraged small and medium artisanal miners to continue investing in the emerald sector despite the challenges encountered in 2024.

Association president Musa Kafimbwa says 2024 has been challenging and has affected production in various sectors.

Dr. Kafimbwa emphasizes that unlike coper or gold production, emerald production does not require much of electricity which is an advantage.

He says emerald has a high value rate which can greatly contributed to economic development if well managed.

Dr. Kafimbwa says it is for this reason that small and medium artisanal miners should take advantage of emerald production to grow the mining sector.